400 families affected by drought receive food in Hiraan

The authority in Baledweyne has begun distributing urgent humanitarian aid to 400 drought-affected families in Hiraan region  of central Somalia.

The aid includes basic foodstuff, drinking water and medical services, among others.

Baledweyne mayor, Omar Adan dekow said food supplies are provided for the families, clean water is distributed through tankers to 400 affected families and medical services will be offered to more other people in the forthcoming days..

The rice, beans, cereals and vegetable oil were distributed in the area.

Food supplies were distributed to the families in several villages including owmaad, Madhow, Geel Ku Dhal villages.

The families had earlier received coupons through which they received food supplies.

Tribal leaders and village elderly supervised distribution.

Somalia experiences dry seasons every year, when water ways go dry and boreholes often become the only source of water.

Residents must often pay for the use of the boreholes, using up families’ limited resources.

“This year the dry season has been very tough,” said Dekow  “Water from boreholes is much more expensive than usual. Our food distribution means that these families will have to spend less money on food so they can afford to buy water.”

He said the food aid which was sent by Mohamed Hassan Qono, a member of parliament to the affected people before the situation goes worse. It is out of a brotherly and moral duty to support anyone in need.